Inspired by the dia de los muertos (day of the dead) celebration, CaliLOVE, Amanda Lopez’s latest body of photographic work addresses more than the concept of death. Instead, Lopez’s portraits reveal and celebrate the preciousness of life. The artist’s first series captured completely indoors, CaliLove addresses the vastness of human experience and individuality. Viewers are called to witness the unique reactions and idiosyncrasies comprising the process of living as well as each individual’s way of coping with the uncertainty of life in the face of death. Within each photograph, CaliLOVE aims to capture this juncture between life, death and the everyday choices that define who we are and where we are headed.

Amanda Lopez was born and raised in Sacramento, California under the watchful eye of her parents and paintings of La Virgen de Guadalupe. Her father lent her a camera at the age of 17, and photography soon became her savior. She studied art at San Francisco State University, and continued to shoot around the Bay Area and beyond. Her work has been published in Vibe, XXL, XLR8R, Hamburger Eyes and in the books “Street World” by Roger Gastman and Upper Playground’s “Backyard Shake Down”. She believes La Virgen de Guadalupe has guided her well.

Free Gold Watch is proud to feature the talented artist whose extensive photographic work has been shown in gallery exhibitions at 111 Minna, San Francisco City Hall, White Walls Gallery and Upper Playground Sacramento. The opening reception begins at 7PM until 11PM on Friday, June 18th 2010. Centering on Amanda Lopez’s intimately inclusive photography the evening will be a celebration of the nuances of everyday life and the preciousness of living.